Murkowski Stresses Need for Arctic Policy, Pledges Commitment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski spoke to the "Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and Maritime Operations" today in downtown Washington, D.C. - the culmination of four events casting a spotlight on Alaska's prominent role in leveraging America's status as an Arctic nation.

"I believe that the pace of change in the Arctic demands that greater attention be focused on the region," Murkowski said towards the end of her speech today at the Navy War Memorial. "The implications of the dynamic changing Arctic for U.S. security, economic, environmental, and political interests depend on it."

In May, Senator Murkowski became the first Member of Congress to attend the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting held in Nuuk, Greenland. When she returned from Greenland, she gave a speech on the U.S. Senate floor, announcing the United States is "waking up" to the fact it is an Arctic nation. This past weekend, she addressed the Arctic Imperative Summit in Girdwood, Alaska where she said that Alaska's Arctic infrastructure needs should be a national priority, and that America was falling behind its fellow Arctic nations in investment in the region.

Murkowski closed today's speech with a pledge "I give you all my commitment that I will do my part - to try to move the Law of the Sea Treaty through the Senate; to advocate for new ice breakers and infrastructure in the Arctic; to support Arctic research and to encourage the United States to continue increasing its' role in the region and with the international Arctic community."